NZ Life & Leisure

Responsible for millions of bees, 26-year-old Steph Munro of Southland's Munro Honey now combines her design skills with the sweeter side of life.

The Rockhopper penguin is a New Zealand native whose numbers have sharply declined in the last 30 years. Inspire the kids to support the Rockhopper in Forest & Bird's Bird of the Year competition with this adorable crochet hat.

Between the mountains and the sea, sculptor Ben Foster and environmentalist Sabrina Luecht have found the best of nests.

Canterbury sculptor Raymond Herber has carved out a true niche for his life and work in an abandoned quarry.

This is a take on a Jo Seagar recipe and a favourite with the Whalley family for Christmas pre-dinner nibbles. They use a 12-muffin tin but you could also make them mini-muffin size.

Amy Leigh Wicks’ second volume of poetry, The Dangerous Country of Love and Marriage, looks back to her childhood in the United States, untangles her arrival in New Zealand, and charts the upheaval of her adopted hometown, Kaikōura.

Manaaki condiments, made in Blenheim with traditional Māori ingredients, aren’t just delicious. They also spread hospitality and generosity.

Kurow lavender farm’s sweet smell of success

A picture-perfect lavender farm, is just one of a bunch of businesses nourished by a Kurow dairy farm.

Truffle flavour marries perfectly with butter, cream and eggs and  exceptionally well with food that is white: potato, rice, bread or pizza dough, cauliflower, pasta and fish.

A not-so-common species of beetle has been adored, stored and restored

A voyage on the high seas inspired an entrepreneurial couple to create a marine tracking system for boaties.

Yes, you can cut down on plastic waste. All it takes is a little planning to change to more eco-friendly habits says the experts.

A delivery business with a twist boosts returns for a Gisborne orchard.

A scoopful of fun is included in every tub made by these award-winning, boutique ice-cream makers.

There’s little room for nuance in the debate over the health of the country’s rivers and streams.

James and Polly breathe life into an old Oxford that’s more companion than caravan.

Brooke and Maggie Noonan left jobs at Auckland Zoo to build an off-grid, eco-friendly house in the Far North. And they struck oil.

Each decade of their life together has taken a New Plymouth couple a step closer to the way they dreamed of living.

Take fresh produce, freeze it, remove the moisture and wow professional chefs and home cooks alike with a range of exciting new ingredients.

Take roasties and savoury chicken to new heights with fragrant tarragon butter.

A creative and artistic grandmother’s blue-toned gift is one that keeps on giving.

An old-fashioned fruit is transformed with a little heat and a lot of airy coconut cream.

Businessman Scottie Chapman was told: ‘No one wants that product.’ It was music to his ears

In Hackland, the grown-ups learn the same way kids do - by trying new things and having fun.

There’s no need to bungy-jump from a bridge or swing perilously close to a cliff-face in a jet-boat to sample the delights of New Zealand's adventure capital. Autumn is a time for gentler pursuits.

Of all of the scenes set decorator Megan Vertelle has crafted into reality, her patchwork Piha villa is the one that steals the show.

The park ranger reflects on the past, present and future protection of Auckland’s Waitākere Regional Park.

From the moment she was baptised Mary Dominica, Mary Horn was on a path to a convent. Her call to be an artist came much later — at nearly 60.

Late summer calls for lovely finger food that celebrates fresh ingredients, like eggplant and red pepper.

Dogged determination helps restore the DIY mana of a west Auckland pastry chef, and creates the ultimate city retreat.

These Yoyos are guaranteed to melt-in-the-mouth. This classic sweet treat is quick to make and will no doubt be an absolute crowd pleaser.

Make your own beeswax food wraps: updated recipe

This environmentally friendly alternative to plastic cling film is easy to make at home.

Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones Actor John Rhys-Davies brings an international flair to the new TV2 black-comedy, Fresh Eggs.

Start a simple yet sensational late summer lunch with some autumn flavour.